Travel Reference
In-Depth Information
Fête des Marins, Honfleur
Local fishing boats, specially
decorated for the occasion, meet
in the Vieux Bassin on Whit
Sunday to start their parade,
which finishes with a priest's
blessing in the Seine estuary.
The festival continues the next
day when fishermen and sailors
process with model ships to
Chapelle Notre-Dame de Grâce.
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Map F3
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Honfleur tourist office: 02 31
89 23 30
Foire de Sainte-Croix,
Lessay
The date of the first Holy Cross
Fair is lost in the mists of time,
but it was probably in the 11th
century and supported by
Benedictine monks. In the 21st
century, some 400,000 people
gather over three days on the
second weekend in September.
As well as almost 2,000
exhibitors and livestock sales,
there are carnival rides and
traditional spit roasts.
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Map B3
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Lessay tourist office: 02 33 45 14 34
L'Armada, Rouen
In late June/early July every
four or five years, Rouen hosts a
fleet of tall ships and battleships
from across the globe. The city
and its environs buzz with
festivities and fireworks displays
for eight lively days and nights,
culminating in a colourful parade
of boats down the Seine. The
most recent Armada took place
in 2003.
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Map J3
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www.armada.org
Foire de Sainte-Croix, Lessay
Pèlerinage d'Eté au Mont-
St-Michel
A crossing of the sands from
Genêts to Mont-St-Michel every
July perpetuates the tradition of
the great pilgrimages of the
Middle Ages. It attracts about
1,500 “pilgrims .
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Map B5
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Presbytère de Sartilly: 02 33 48 80 37
Festival du Cinéma
Américain, Deauville
Even though it is not quite as
prestigious as Cannes or Venice,
this festival dedicated to the
best American movies of the
year always attracts its share of
Hollywood stars. Unsurprisingly,
the premières are the most
popular screenings. Awards are
given by an all-French jury.
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Map
E3
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Public System Cinema: 01 41 34 20
00
•
www.festival-deauville.com
Le Normandy Horse Show
à St-Lô
This major event in the equestrian
calendar takes place over one
week in August, and includes
auctions of horses, ponies and
donkeys, as well as numerous
competitions; the showjumping
and obstacle courses are among
the favourites. Spectators will
see all sorts of different breeds,
from sporting to cart horses.
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Map C4
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Centre de Promotion de
l'Élevage, Haras National, ave du
Maréchal-Juin: 02 33 55 20 09
Foire aux Dindes, Sées
On the second Saturday
in December, the seductive
medieval town of Sées is filled
with the sound of gobbling.
People come from all over Orne
and beyond to Normandy's
largest and most important
turkey fair to preview their
Christmas dinner.
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Map E5
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Sées
tourist office: 02 33 28 74 79
Following pages
Château St-Germain-de-Livet, Pays d'Auge
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